Andean Flamingo

Facts

IUCN VULNERABLE (VU)

Facts about this animal

The Andean flamingo has a total length of about 110 cm. The plumage is maninly white with a pink tinge. the throat and the chest are often veined with pink, and the wing coverts are rosy vermilion. The flight feathers are black and quite conspicuous even when the wings are folded. The big, curved bill is largely black with a ivory-coloured basal area. The eyes are dark red-brown. It's the only flamingo with yellow legs, and they have no hind toe. The sexes are very similar in appearance.

Did you know?
that the Andean flamingo is the only flamingo species with yellow legs? The closely related James' flamingo has red legs, in most other species they are greyish pink.

Factsheet
Class	AVES
Order	CICONIIFORMES
Suborder	PHOENICOPTERI
Family	PHOENICICOPTERIDAE
Name (Scientific)	Phoenicoparrus andinus
Name (English)	Andean Flamingo
Name (French)	Flamant des Andes
Name (German)	Andenflamingo
Name (Spanish)	Parina grande
CITES Status	Appendix II
CMS Status	Appendix II

Photo Copyright by
Adrian Pingstone

Distribution

Distribution
Range	Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Peru
Habitat	Has the most restricted range of all flamingos. It is found usually in salt lakes above 2500 m in the Andes, from southern Peru to north-central Chile, western Bolivia and north-west Argentina.
Wild population	Population assessments are difficult and vary greatly, but 50,000-100,000 individuals may have been realistic until the mid-1980s. The 34,000 estimated in 1997, suggests that it declined rapidly during the preceding 10-15 years. Breeding success appears to be consistently low, and thus declines may continue for many years, because flamingos have a high longevity (20-50 years).
Zoo population	5 reported to ISIS (2007)

In the Zoo

How this animal should be transported

For air transport, Container Note 17 of the IATA Live Animals Regulations should be followed.

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Photo Copyright by
Adrian Pingstone

Why do zoos keep this animal

The Andean flamingo is only rarely kept by zoos and if so, either for educational purposes, e.g. for demonstrating speciation within the flamingo family, or for scientific interest. As a matter of principle, flamingos are also excellent ambassador species for wetland conservation but this role could as well be taken on by the more common Chilean flamingo..

How this animal should be kept

Outdoor enclosures should be built with the maximum desired flock size in mind. For 20 adults, an enclosure of at least 100 m² land and 20 m² water surface is required. The land part must be enlarged by 5 m², the pool by 0.5 m² for each additional adult.

Water should be able to flow freely in all areas of the pool to avoid any possible buildups of botulism. Also, this area should be large enough to allow the flock to engage in any courtship displays. A nesting area should be large enough to accommodate the entire flock, with room to allow for potential aggression. A recommended size for a nesting area is 0.9 m² per bird. Always allow enough space to accommodate offspring and any future acquisitions.

Feeding areas separate from the pool or main water source, with their own drainage system and water source should be set aside. There should be access from all sides of the feeding area or pool to prevent aggression.

A well-maintained grass cover is probably the best substrate for a flamingo enclosure. Where prevailing winds are common, windbreaks should be added to prevent even the pinioned birds from taking short flights. Enclosure orientation should also be looked at in these cases to eliminate long runs into the wind. If possible, also include a built-in catching and holding area.

Predators can be a problem in such a small, enclosed area and it is recommended that this be taken into consideration. Some methods of preventing depredation include the use of electric wire on the top of the fence and a mesh ceiling to prevent predator access to the area.

In cold and temperate climates, a frost free wintering area is required offering at least 0.5 m² land and and 0.5 m² water surface per bird. It is not recommended to mix flamingos with any mammal species, especially hoof stock. Miximg flamingos with non-aggressive waterfowl, such as smaller ducks and ibises is possible but special consideration should be made to separate feeding areas for species other than flamingos as there have been several incidences of flamingos becoming impacted on the sand and grit used in various waterfowl diets.

A variety of commercially available, grain-based diets containing 20 to 40% protein, developed using the nutrient requirements of poultry and duck species, have proven successful for maintenance, growth, and reproduction of flamingos in captivity and should be provided as the staple diet. In the absence of organisms occurring naturally in the flamingos’ pool, possible enrichment items could include a range of small whole prey such as krill, copepods, and aquatic insect larvae to duckweed (Lemna sp.), chopped greens, and algae species. Many zoos use canthaxanthin as a pigment added to the diet.